Laura Dockrill is the author of the new children's picture book Sockflea: A Stuffie in the Wild. Her other books include Gray. She is also a performance poet and an illustrator, and she lives in London.
Q: What inspired you to write Sockflea: A Stuffie in the Wild?
A: We went on a family holiday a couple of years ago and when packing for our trip my son (aged 5 at the time) said he didn’t want to bring a soft toy or stuffed animal with him. No matter how much I told him that he might miss his toys in the night he didn’t listen, he was adamant. “I’m five! I’m big now!” he insisted. In all the packing - for some reason- I trusted him! Silly me.
Cut to in the middle of the night: him crying his eyes out saying how he couldn’t sleep without his favourite teddy (a worn little bunny named Sugarpie that he’s had since he was a baby who actually features in the book as a different character.) He was totally homesick.
So up I get, in the middle of the night and improvise with a pair of socks to create a new friend! A bundle of socks like a little body and the toe bits flop down to make ears. We named them: Sockflea.
Sockflea and my son became inseparable. They spent the entire holiday together- I even made my niece a friend called “Pop” made from a tiny pair of blue popsocks (Pop’s really naughty!). Although, just like in the book, sometimes my son will catch me wearing Sockflea on my feet!!
P.S. We chose camping as the holiday because this is a huge secret but I HATE camping! So I could really relate with all the fears! Don’t tell anyone.
Q: How did you create your elephant child and caregiver?
A: This was actually [illustrator] Eva Byrne’s magic and elephants are what made us fall in love with Eva’s work. She sent a few samples and at the back was this gorgeous little elephant and it was like a lightbulb moment. They suit the characters so much.
Q: Can you say more about what you think Eva Byrne’s illustrations add to the book?
A: As above, Eva bought the joy of the elephants but she’s done such an incredible job of creating the atmosphere and energy of the trip. She captures nature so beautifully too - the frogs and plants.
My favourite thing about her work is the adult’s reaction and response to the child. You can really feel the adult trying to have a holiday too. She brings so much levity and comedy, and managing the emotions of the little one.
The nighttime spreads are really fantastic - you can feel the exhaustion of the adult, and the fear and anxiety in the little one’s expressions are spot on.
But my absolute favourite bit is the stuffies she’s illustrated at the beginning, they are just hilarious. I actually have an illustration of Bad Debbie on my studio wall!
Q: The Kirkus Review of the book says, “Friends are literally what you make of them in this highly amusing jaunt into the unknown.” What do you think of that description?
A: Ha! I haven’t seen that but I love it. The whole point of the book is that. The real comfort isn’t Sockflea but the parent’s creativity and invention, that they’ve done something to reassure their little one - like sacrificing their socks (lol) to improvise something special and unique.
Toys don’t need to be expensive and new. We can use our imaginations to think outside the box and we’re never too old to play.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I’m working on a TV show and a new book for adults, but I’d love to do more with Sockflea! Maybe I can create baby Pop!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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